Boot Insert

ABSTRACT

A boot insert is for placement within a boot between a boot cuff and a wearer&#39;s leg and has a calf part and an ankle part. The boot insert has an inward facing leg contacting face and an outward facing cuff contacting face. The boot insert is curved to comfortably follow the contour of a wearer&#39;s leg. The boot insert is constructed to provide a physical barrier between the cuff and the wearer&#39;s leg to avoid direct contact between the leg and pinch points, folds, and the like on the cuff. The boot insert inhibits rubbing, chaffing, blisters, and related discomfort.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is related to and claims priority benefit ofProvisional Patent Application No. 61/223,230, filed on Jul. 6, 2009,the entire disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure is generally directed to an insert for footwear,and more particularly to an ankle insert for a boot.

2. Description of Related Art

Boots and other related footwear typically have portions that extendsignificantly above and over a wearer's ankle during use. These types offootwear are typically not custom-made to fit each specific user uponpurchase. Such footwear also have contours that are likely not preciselycompatible with the shape of a specific wearer's foot or leg.Traditional cowboy boots lack laces or other fasteners, relying insteadon a tall cuff that extends closely around a wearer's lower leg or calfand, thus, over the wearer's ankle to keep the boot in place.Differences in shape and a lack of adjustable fasteners to accommodatesuch differences may cause the cowboy boot to bear against a wearer inan incompatible or uncomfortable manner, such as by rubbing on thewearer's ankles.

In some cases, such boot footwear may create a significant amount offriction or chaffing while rubbing on the ankle area of the wearer. Inturn, the footwear may cause a user significant discomfort, blistering,and/or pain. Some cowboy boots develop indentation points, wrinkles, orfolds in the cuff section in the ankle region that can also causeirritation. These indentation points often directly touch and irritatethe user's ankle by repeatedly digging into and/or rubbing against thesame area while walking. Such discomfort and irritation may produceblistering and/or bleeding at these spots, thereby discouraging thewearer from wearing the cowboy boots.

Some wearers might rely on repeated wearing of the footwear to break inand re-contour problematic parts of the boot over time. This approach isundesirable because a wearer experiences discomfort unless and until thefootwear is sufficiently broken in. In addition, this approach requiresthe wearer to put up with irritation, or worse, caused by continuousrubbing of the boot material against their skin until re-contouring ofthe footwear occurs. In some cases, the problematic footwear or bootsimply does not improve. In many cases, the wearer may give up wearingthe footwear before the discomfort is reduced or eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, aboot insert has a resilient, flexible, shape-holding body with a topedge, a bottom edge, a pair of opposed side edges, a length between thetop and bottom edges, a lengthwise axis, a width between the pair ofopposed side edges, a boot cuff facing surface, a leg facing surfaceopposite the boot cuff facing surface, and a thin profile between theboot cuff and leg facing surfaces. The boot insert also has a coverreceived over and covering at least the leg facing surface of the body.The body is concavely curved across the width in the direction of theleg facing surface and is also curved along the lengthwise axis betweenthe top and bottom edges.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thecover can have an interior and the body can be received within theinterior and covered by the cover.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thecover can have an opening therein for insertion and removal of the bodyrelative to an interior of the cover.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thecover can be a flexible fabric material. In another example, the covercan be a flexible material.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thebody can have an upper calf section and a lower ankle section. The calfsection can have a width that is wider than the width of the anklesection.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thebody can have a calf section that can be concavely curved along at leastpart of a lengthwise axis in the direction of a leg facing surface. Anankle section of the body can also be convexly curved along at leastpart of the lengthwise axis in the direction of the leg facing surface.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thebody can have a continuous perimeter edge inclusive of the top, bottom,and opposed pair of side edges and can have a curved lip extendingaround a substantial majority of the perimeter edge. The lip can beconvexly curved in the direction of the leg facing surface.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thebody can have a continuous perimeter edge inclusive of the top, bottom,and pair of opposed side edges and can have a rounded formationextending around a substantial majority of the perimeter edge.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thecover can be a fabric material and have an interior. The body can bereceived within the interior and can be covered by the cover. The covercan have a slit across a width of the cover for insertion and removal ofthe body relative to the interior.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, aboot insert for placement within a boot between a boot cuff and awearer's leg has a calf part with an upper end forming a top end of theboot insert, an ankle part with a lower end forming a bottom end of theboot insert, and an intermediate part positioned between andinterconnecting the calf and ankle parts. The boot insert has a lengthbetween the top and bottom ends. The boot insert also has an inwardfacing leg contacting face on the boot insert defined by the calf,ankle, and intermediate parts and has an outward facing cuff contactingface on the boot insert opposite the leg contacting face. The bootinsert has a pair of opposed sides spaced apart and extending along aperimeter of the boot insert between the top and bottom ends. Each ofthe calf, ankle, and intermediate parts is curved concavely across thewidth of the boot insert in the direction of the leg contacting face.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thecalf and ankle parts each can have a width between the sides that isgreater than a width of the intermediate part.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, awidth of the calf part can be greater than a width of the ankle part.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, theboot insert can include a resilient, flexible, shape-holding core formedof a plastic material and a fabric sleeve having an interior. The corecan be received in the interior and can be covered by the fabric sleeve.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, bootinsert can have a resilient, shape-holding core with a top edge, abottom edge, a pair of opposed side edges, a length between the top andbottom edges, a lengthwise axis, a width between the pair of opposedside edges, a boot cuff facing surface, a leg facing surface oppositethe boot cuff facing surface, and a thin profile between the boot cuffand leg facing surfaces.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, theboot insert can have a resilient, shape-holding core that can beconcavely curved across its width in the direction of a leg facingsurface of the core and that can also be curved along a lengthwise axisbetween top and bottom edges of the core.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, theboot insert can have a core that has an upper calf section and a lowerankle section. The calf section can be wider between its pair of opposedside edges than the ankle section.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, theboot insert can have a core that can have a continuous perimeter edgeand can have a curved lip extending around a substantial majority of theperimeter edge. The lip can be convexly curved in the direction of a legfacing surface of the core.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, theboot insert can also be curved along a lengthwise axis between the topand bottom ends.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, thecurve across the width of the boot insert can be generally C-shaped. Theboot insert can also be curved along a lengthwise axis between the topand bottom ends. The curve along the length of the boot insert can beslightly S-shaped.

In one example according to the teachings of the present invention, theboot insert can be generally widthwise symmetrical over a length of theboot insert.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with thedrawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective rear view of one example of a boot insertconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the boot insert in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the boot insert in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a rear plan view of the boot insert in FIG. 1, with aportion of a fabric cover partially cut away to expose a flexible innercore.

FIG. 5A shows a cross section of the boot insert taken along line VA-VAin FIG. 4.

FIG. 5B shows a cross section of the boot insert taken along line VB-VBin FIG. 4.

FIG. 5C shows a cross section of the boot insert taken along line VC-VCin FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective rear view of the flexible core of the bootinsert in FIG. 1 with the fabric cover removed.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the flexible core in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the flexible core in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows a rear plan view of the flexible core in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10A shows a cross section of the flexible core taken along lineXA-XA in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10B shows a cross section of the flexible core taken along lineXB-XB in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10C shows a cross section of the boot insert taken along line XC-XCin FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a cut-away side view of a wearer's ankle and foot within aboot and showing the boot insert of FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 12 shows a cut-away front view of the wearer's ankle and foot andthe boot in FIG. 11 and showing two of the boot inserts in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention is for a boot insert that reduces irritation andrubbing of a boot against a wearer's ankle and makes wearing thefootwear of the boots more comfortable. In one example, the boot insertcan be used with a cowboy boot. In other examples, the boot insert maybe used with any one of a number of other types of boots or footwear andbe worn in the area over the wearer's ankle as a barrier between theboot material and the user's skin.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate several views of oneexample of a boot insert 20 constructed in accordance with the teachingsof the present invention. In the disclosed example as shown in FIG. 1,the boot insert 20 is a generally thin, elongate structure with a topend 14, a bottom end 15, and a pair of opposed sides 16 extendingbetween the ends. The top and bottom ends 14, 15 and the opposed sides16 together form a perimeter of the boot insert 20. The boot insert 20has an overall length L between the top end 14 and bottom end 15. Theboot insert 20 also has a width W between the opposed sides 16. The bootinsert 20 has numerous contours or curvatures along its length L andwidth W. In this example, the boot insert 20 generally includes an upperor calf part 22 and a lower or ankle part 24. In the present example,the boot insert 20 also includes an intermediate or waist part 26connecting and extending between the upper and lower parts 22, 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the boot insert 20 also generally has a front,outer, or boot contacting face 28 and an opposite rear, back, or legcontacting face 30. In this example, each of the faces 28, 30 is definedin part by an exposed surface portion of each of the calf part 22, anklepart 24, and intermediate part 26. The boot insert 20 also has a depth Ddefined in this example as the overall dimension from the most forwardpoint of the insert to the most rearward point as shown in FIG. 3. Asdepicted in FIG. 1, the length L is generally the longest dimension, thewidth W is substantially less than the length, and the depth D issignificantly less than both the length and the width.

The boot insert 20 in this example has an elongate core or body 32received inside a sleeve or cover 34 that envelops the core as shown inFIGS. 4-5C. In this example, the cover 34 is made from a sewn fabricmaterial and the core 32 is molded from a resilient and flexible, butsomewhat stiff, plastic material. The core 32 is generally a thinprofile, non-flat panel of material. The cover 34 in this example has aslit 36 in the fabric that is positioned on the back face 30 of the bootinsert 20. The core 32 can be inserted within and removed from the cover34 through the slit 36. The slit 36 in this example is orientedwidthwise across the upper part 22 of the boot insert 20 to makeinsertion of the core 32 into, or removal of the insert from, the cover34 simple and easy. The boot insert 20 generally has a thickness Tdefined by the material layers of the cover 34 and the core 32 as shownin FIGS. 5A-5C. The thickness T is included in the depth D of the bootinsert 20, but does not define the entire depth of the insert, asdepicted in FIG. 3.

As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art uponreading this disclosure, the cover and core materials and fabricationmethods can vary within the spirit and scope of the invention. Thefabric material of the cover 34 can be a relatively soft, durable, andmachine washable material to provide comfort for the wearer whileyielding a lasting product. The fabric material can also be a relativelythin material so as to help minimize the thickness T of the boot insert20. A thinner insert will take up less space during use and thus canresult in a more comfortable wearing experience for a user. The fabricmaterial can also be created in a variety of colors and/or having avariety of decorative patterns. The cover 34 can be formed from twofabric layers that are sewn along a seam 38 around the perimeter of thecover. Alternatively, the cover can be formed as a tube with top andbottom ends that are sewn or otherwise fastened closed. In one example,one end of the cover 34 can be open, replacing the slit 36, forinsertion and removal of the core 32. The open end can include a closureflap and/or can include a fastener such as a VELCRO, i.e., hook andloop, or other fastening or adhering mechanism. The cover can be orinclude a pad or cushion to further improve comfort for a user. In oneexample, the cover can include a material layer, such as a pad orcushion, which is exposed on only one side of the boot insert, i.e., onthe leg contacting face 30. For example, the cover can be a single layeradhered to one surface of the body or core 32.

The plastic material of the core 32 can be any suitable material that isrigid or stiff and resilient enough to hold its shape, but flexibleenough to bend or give as needed during use. The thickness of the core32 material can also be relatively thin. In one example, the core 32 canbe thermoformed or injection molded from a thermoplastic elastomer,polyethylene, or polypropylene material. Alternatively, the core 32 canbe formed from NYLON or from another suitable non-plastic material.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5C, the boot insert 20 is not flat, but instead hasa complex curved profile defined primarily by the shape and contour ofthe core 32. As shown in FIGS. 6-10C, the body or core 32 has a front,boot facing, or outer surface 40 and a rear, leg facing, or innersurface 42 that correspond, respectively, with the front or bootcontacting face 28 and the rear or leg contacting face 30 of the bootinsert 20. FIGS. 6 and 9 show the rear or inner surface 42 of the core32. The core 32 has an upper or calf section 44, a lower or anklesection 46, and a waist or mid-section 48 between the upper and lowersections. Each section 44, 46, 48 corresponds to and defines therespective upper part 22, lower part 24, and intermediate part 26 of theboot insert 20. The upper section 44 terminates at a top edge 50 of thecore 32 and the lower section 46 terminates at a bottom edge 52 of thecore. The top and bottom edges 50, 52 correspond, respectively, to thetop and bottom ends 14, 15 of the boot insert 20. The core 32 also has apair of side edges 54 that define the lateral boundaries of the body.The side edges 54 correspond to the sides 16 of the boot insert 20 andjoin to the top and bottom edges 50, 52 at respective top and bottomcorners 56 and 58 of the core or body 32. In this example, the top andbottom corners 56, 58 are curved or rounded and gradually transitionbetween the side edges and the top and bottom edges. The four corners56, 58, side edges 54, top edge 50, and bottom edge 52 together define aperimeter of the body or core 32.

With reference to FIGS. 8-10C, the core is generally symmetrical alongthe lengthwise axis A, but the width W of the core 32 varies over itslength L. Thus, the side edges 54 are not linear or parallel to oneanother over the entire length of the core 32. The width of the uppersection 44 between the side edges 54 is greater than both the width ofthe mid-section 48 and lower section 46. The width of the upper section44 tapers and becomes narrower toward the top edge 50 and toward themid-section 48. The width of the lower section 46 is greater than thewidth of the mid-section 48 and also tapers, becoming narrower towardthe bottom edge 52 and toward the mid-section 48. The width of themid-section widens as it transitions to the upper and lower sections. Inthis example, the slit 36 in the cover 34 is sized to receive the widerupper section 44 therethrough and thus can easily receive the narrowerlower and mid-sections as well. The slit 36 is positioned to coincidewith the upper section 44, making it easier to pass the core 32 throughthe slit, narrowest sections first. The transitions between the adjacentside edges 54, corners 56, 58, top edge 50, and bottom edge 52 aregradually tapered and smooth to avoid sharp corners on the coreperimeter. As a result, the core 32 is widest across a portion of theupper section 44, narrower across a portion of the lower section 46 andnarrowest across a portion of the mid-section 48 in this example. In oneexample, the upper section can be about 4 inches across at its widestpoint, the mid-section can be about 2.5 inches across at its narrowestpoint, and the lower section can be about 3 inches across at its widestpoint. The length of the core 32 in one example between the top andbottom edges 50, 52 can be about 8 to 9 inches.

As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, theoverall size and shape of the perimeter of the core 32 can vary from theexample shown and yet fall within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. For example, the widths of the upper, lower, and mid-sectionsalong the length can vary. In some examples, the mid-section can beeliminated, leaving only an upper and lower section. The side edges canincorporate different curvatures along the length or have sharp, abrupt,or non-gradual transitions between the sections. Portions of the sideedges can parallel to one another. The core can also be asymmetricrelative to the lengthwise axis A. The broadest and narrowest widths ofthe core 32 could be found in different sections. Alternatively, theupper and lower sections could have the same width and/or the core couldhave a generally rectangular shape defined by the perimeter. The top andbottom edges can also vary in shape and can be linear, non-linear,gradually curved or the like. The transitions along the perimeter canalso differ from the example shown and described herein. The length ofthe core 32 can also vary from the example show and the proportion oflength to width can also vary. A variety of design features andcharacteristics can be varied and yet maintain the intended function ofthe boot insert 20.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4-5C, the cover 34 in this example isformed from two layers of fabric 34 a, 34 b that are joined or sewn toone another around their respective perimeters at the seam 38. The shapeof the sleeve or cover 34 matches the shape of the core 32, but isslightly larger to fully encompass and encapsulate the core. The cover34 can be flat when not installed on the core 32. The cover can also becut and sewn in such a manner so as to take on a similar shape as thecore 32. Adhesive patches (not shown) or other adhesive mechanisms ormeans can be provided on the surfaces 40, 42 of the core 32 and/or onthe inner surfaces of the cover 34 so that the fabric cover materialtemporarily adheres to the core and conforms to its shape when the coreis inside the cover (see FIGS. 5A-5C). Alternatively, the fabric can beloosely fitted to, or stretched taut over, the core 32 and only take thecore shape during use within a boot or footwear item.

With reference to FIGS. 5A-5C, 7, 8, and 10A-10C, one can see that thecore 32 has complex curves and is not a flat structure. The core 32 hasa slight S-shaped curvature or profile in side view (see FIG. 7) overits length from the top edge 50 to the bottom edge 52. The core 32 alsogenerally has a C-shaped curvature across in top or bottom view (seeFIGS. 8 and 10A-10C). In this example, C-shaped curvature across thewidth of the core 32 is concave in the direction of the inner or legfacing surface 42 and thus convex in the direction of the outer or bootfacing surface 40. The C-shaped curvature across the width of the core32 forms a depression or trough over the length of the core. The troughor C-shape is intended to assist in the boot insert 20 conforming to orfitting the contour of a wearer's leg during use.

In this example, the calf or upper section 44 is also concavely curvedin the direction of the leg facing or inner surface 42 from the top edge50 toward the mid-section 48 (see FIG. 7). The lengthwise and widthwisecurvature of the upper section 44 forms a bowl shape (see FIGS. 7 and10A) that is convex to the direction of the outer of boot facing surface40. From the upper section 44 downward through the mid-section 48, thecurvature from top to bottom lessens gradually and transitions from theconvex, rear facing curvature (see FIG. 7). However, the curvature inthe widthwise direction in the mid-section 48 is still convex (see FIG.10B). From the mid-section 48 downward through the lower section 46, thecurvature from top to bottom flattens out and then begins to curve inthe opposite direction. In other words, the lower region of the lowersection 46 trends toward a convex curvature in the direction of therear, inner, or leg facing surface along the lengthwise axis A, eventhough the lower section is still convexly curved in the widthwisedirection (see FIGS. 7 and 10C). This lower convex curvature in thelower section 46 will help hold the boot insert in position and helpprevent the bottom end 15 of the insert from digging into the user'sfoot or ankle during use, as illustrated below.

The boot insert 20 as a whole takes on generally the same shape as thecore or body 32 (see FIGS. 1-5C). This is particularly true during useof the boot insert 20 because the material of the cover 34, even ifloosely fitted over the body or core 32, is displaced into contact withthe core. In the disclosed example, the thickness T of the boot insertlayers is substantially uniform. Each layer 34 a, 34 b of the fabriccover 34 in this example also has a substantially uniform thickness. Inthis example, the layers are depicted as being adjacent to and directlycontacting the core 32. In other examples, the fabric cover 34 may bestretched taut over the core 32 with one layer adjacent the inner facingsurface 42 extending directly across the core between the side edges 54instead of following the widthwise concave curvature. In such anexample, the fabric layer 34 b will be displaced against the core wheninserted in a boot during use.

In one example, the concave curvature of the core 32 in the widthwisedirection can be similar to an arc of a sector of an ellipse. In otherexamples, the widthwise curved shape can be consistent with the form ofan arc of a circle sector, a parabola sector, a prolate spheroid sector,or another curved shape. Similarly, the shape of the lengthwise top tobottom curve can also vary from the shape disclosed herein.

The arc size or length defined by any portion of the curved uppersection 44 (see FIG. 10A) in the widthwise direction is preferably anarc of a sector (of a full circle, ellipse, parabola, etc.) that is lessthan half of a full circumference of the shape, i.e., an arc of a sectorwith a central angle of less than 180°. This is to inhibit the bootinsert 20 from clamping onto a user's leg during use and/or digging intotheir flesh during use. The central angle of the sector being less than180° also will allow for two of the boot inserts 20 to be used on eitherside of a wearer's leg without overlapping or coming into contact withone another inside of a boot. In one example, the arc defined by thecurved upper section can be that of a sector with a central angle ofroughly 45°. In other examples, the arc can be that of a sector with anangle of less than 45° or greater than 45° but less than 180° firstcentral angle may be greater than 180°. The radii of the sector willdetermine the flatness or sharpness of the curve across the uppersection. The radii of the sector can vary within the spirit and scope ofthe invention and, thus, the flatness or sharpness of the widthwisecurvature of the core 32 and boot insert 20 can also vary.

With reference to FIG. 10B, the mid-section 48 in this example has ashorter arc length than the upper section 44. However, as noted above,the arc length (and thus the central angle of it's sector) of themid-section 48, if present at all, can be equivalent to the uppersection or at least proportionally varied from the example shown anddescribed. Also, the radii of the mid-section sector that defines theflatness or sharpness of it's widthwise curvature can be the same as theupper section or different from the upper section, as desired.Similarly, with reference to FIG. 10C the lower section 46 in thisexample has an arc length that is shorter than that of the upper section44 but longer than that of the mid-section 48. However, as noted above,the arc length (and thus the central angle of it's sector) of the lowersection 46 can also be equivalent to the upper section and/or themid-section or at least proportionally varied from the example shown anddescribed. Also, the radii of the lower section sector that defines theflatness or sharpness of it's widthwise curvature can also be the sameas the upper section and/or mid-section or different from one or both,as desired. The central angle of the widthwise curvature for any part ofthe boot insert 20 is preferably less than 180° for the reasons notedabove.

In this example, the core 32 is widthwise curved over its entire length,forming a trough-like shape over the length of the insert along thelengthwise axis A. In other examples, the core 32 may not be widthwisecurved along the entire length of the boot insert 20 and instead canhave portions that are not concave between the side edges. A narrow,flat region may be formed, such as for the mid-section 48. Depending onthe type of material used for the cover 34 and whether the cover istightly stretched or loosely fitted over the core 32, the perceivedshape of the boot insert 20 may vary. For instance, if the cover 34 isstretched taut between the side edges, the inner leg facing side mayappear flat and have no trough shape, even though the core 32 iswidthwise curved.

As will be evident to those having ordinary skill in the art, theoverall shape and structure of the insert can vary and yet fall withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, thethickness of the core and/or the cover material as a whole may vary. Insome examples, the thickness of the core may vary over the width orlength of the core. Surface features can be added to the core surfaces.Materials may be used for the core so that the core changes in shapeduring use to accommodate the specific wearer's leg contour. The cover34 can be provided from or with materials (i.e., a gel-like material pador path) that re-contour when pressure is applied during use. Manyvariations of the insert are possible while allowing the boot insert 20to function as intended. In one alternate example, the core 32 can beprovided and used without a cover or added material layer and the covercan be eliminated. In another example, the inner, leg facing surface ofthe core 32 can carry a pad, cushion, or gel-like region as well.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 10A-10C, the core or body 32 has a lip60 on the perimeter edge inclusive of the side edges 54 the top edge 50,the bottom edge 52, and the corners 56, 58. In this example, the lip iscontinuous around the core. In an alternate example, the lip could bediscontinuous and extend around a substantial majority of the core orpart of the core, if configured to perform as intended. The lip 60 inthis example is provided as a comfort feature to eliminate any sharpedges contacting the user's skin or flesh. The lip 60 is formed by theperimeter edge being curved convexly in the direction toward the inner,leg facing surface 42. The convex exposed side 62 will bear against theuser's leg, instead of the outermost point of the perimeter edge on thecore. The curvature of the lip 60 in this example directs and spaces theedges 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 away from the user. In another alternateembodiment, the lip 60 could be replaced by a rounded or bulbous ribmolded onto the edges or by some other rounded or softening feature.

FIG. 11 shows a cut away side view of a leg 70 including a calf 72, anankle 74, and a foot 76. The leg 70 is illustrated wearing a cowboy boot78 with a boot insert 20 positioned therein. The cowboy boot 78 has aboot section 80 sized to receive the foot 76 of the user. The cowboyboot 78 also has a cuff section 82 projecting up from the boot section80 and surrounding the wearer's ankle 74 and lower calf 72. The bootinsert 20 is placed such that the ankle 74 of the wearer is covered bythe lower ankle-contacting part 24 of the insert. The upper orcalf-contacting part 22 of the boot insert 20 is positioned adjacent thelower calf 72 of the wearer's leg 70.

The boot insert 20 is shaped, as described above, so as to closely matchthe contours of the wearer's leg 70 in use. As shown in FIG. 12, theboot insert 20 will be sandwiched between the leg 70 and the insidesurface of the cuff section 82 of the boot in use. The shape of theinsert 20 will help to retain it in position, as will pressure appliedby the tight space between the leg 70 and cuff section 82. The bootinsert 20 is not fixedly attached to any part of the wearer's leg 70 orthe boot 78 and can be user-adjusted to optimize comfort and/orprotection of the wearer's leg. In this example, the bottom end 15 andlower ankle-contacting part 24 of the insert 20 are contoured andcompatibly curved with the user's ankles to hold the insert at theproper elevation and position. However, the boot insert 20 in thisexample does not overlap or extend around the user's leg or across thefootwear interior. The insert may thus also self-adjust during use as awearer walks and yet maintain coverage of the wearer's ankle 74. Theboot insert 20 may be inserted before, after, or simultaneously as thefootwear is put on. If a wearer is using a sock, the insert may beplaced either within or outside of the sock, depending on the desiredcomfort and placement. FIG. 12 also shows two of the boot inserts 20 inuse simultaneously within the same cowboy boot 78 interior and adjacentboth the lateral and medial portions of a wearer's ankle 74. Either oneor both can be comfortably worn within the cowboy boot 78.

As is known in the art, the cowboy boot 78 often has indentation points,wrinkles, or folds located near the lower cuff section 82 andparticularly where the cuff section meets the boot section 80. Thesewrinkles or fold typically dig into the wearer's skin or flesh and cancause discomfort, irritation, pain, or even blistering or bleeding. Thedisclosed boot inserts 20, in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention, can be inserted into the cowboy boot. As shown, each insertcan be positioned to block such wrinkles, folds, or contact points inthe cuff section or boot material from contacting the wearer's leg 70.The inserts can cover the wearer's lateral and medial malleolus. Theinserts 20 may thus act as a floating barrier between the boot interiorwall and the wearer's leg 70 and foot 76. The inserts 20 can preventcontact of the footwear interior wall with lateral and medial sides ofthe wearer's leg. In some examples, the insert can work as a spacer tocreate a gap between the user and the footwear interior and relievediscomfort.

The disclosed boot insert 20 can also re-contour the footwear interiorwall over extended use. The insert 20 may be received within a footwearinterior during use and be sufficiently loose. As a wearer moves, theinsert can shift and prevent extended contact of one portion of theinsert with a wearer's leg or foot to relieve discomfort.Simultaneously, the insert may reposition the boot material and, overextended use, change its folded or wrinkled shape, i.e., by altering the“memory” of the boot material. The boot insert 20 may thus eventually betaken out while the boot is worn without the boot causing discomfort tothe user. On occasion, the boot inserts may need to be re-inserted intothe boot in order to re-contour and maintain the proper shape of theboot material. During use, a user may only need to use one insert,either on the inside or the outside of the ankle, instead of two of theinserts. In addition, a user may start with using two of the inserts,but then only need to periodically use one insert to re-shape one sideof the boot or the other.

The insert in this example is configured to hold in place without theuse of fasteners. The insert is also configured to fit within thefootwear interior sufficiently loosely to permit movement of the insertwhile maintaining a barrier between the wearer's leg and a potentialrubbing surface of the footwear interior wall. In this example, the coreor body 32 of the boot insert 20 can be made from resilient butsufficiently rigid plastic to adequately perform the barrier function.

Although certain footwear or boot inserts have been described herein inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope ofcoverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, thispatent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure thatfairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.

1. A boot insert comprising: a resilient, flexible, shape-holding bodyhaving a top edge, a bottom edge, a pair of opposed side edges, a lengthbetween the top and bottom edges, a lengthwise axis, a width between thepair of opposed side edges, a boot cuff facing surface, a leg facingsurface opposite the boot cuff facing surface, and a thin profilebetween the boot cuff and leg facing surfaces; and a cover received overand covering at least the leg facing surface of the body, wherein thebody is concavely curved across the width in the direction of the legfacing surface and is also curved along the lengthwise axis between thetop and bottom edges.
 2. A boot insert according to claim 1, wherein thecover has an interior and the body is received within the interior andcovered by the cover.
 3. A boot insert according to claim 2, wherein thecover has an opening therein for insertion and removal of the bodyrelative to the interior.
 4. A boot insert according to claim 2, whereinthe cover is a flexible fabric material.
 5. A boot insert according toclaim 1, wherein the cover is a flexible material.
 6. A boot insertaccording to claim 1, wherein the body has an upper calf section and alower ankle section, the calf section having a width that is wider thanthe width of the ankle section.
 7. A boot insert according to claim 6,wherein the calf section is concavely curved along at least part of thelengthwise axis in the direction of the leg facing surface, and whereinthe ankle section is convexly curved along at least part of thelengthwise axis in the direction of the leg facing surface.
 8. A bootinsert according to claim 1, wherein the body has a continuous perimeteredge inclusive of the top, bottom, and opposed pair of side edges andhas a curved lip extending around a substantial majority of theperimeter edge, the lip being convexly curved in the direction of theleg facing surface.
 9. A boot insert according to claim 1, wherein thebody has a continuous perimeter edge inclusive of the top, bottom, andpair of opposed side edges and has a rounded formation extending arounda substantial majority of the perimeter edge.
 10. A boot insertaccording to claim 1, wherein the cover is a fabric material and has aninterior, the body being received within the interior and covered by thecover, and wherein the cover has a slit across a width of the cover forinsertion and removal of the body relative to the interior.
 11. A bootinsert for placement within a boot between a boot cuff and a wearer'sleg, the boot insert comprising: a calf part with an upper end forming atop end of the boot insert; an ankle part with a lower end forming abottom end of the boot insert; an intermediate part positioned betweenand interconnecting the calf and ankle parts, the boot insert having alength between the top and bottom ends; an inward facing leg contactingface on the boot insert defined by the calf, ankle, and intermediateparts; an outward facing cuff contacting face on the boot insertopposite the leg contacting face; and a pair of opposed sides spacedapart and extending along a perimeter of the boot insert between the topand bottom ends, wherein each of the calf, ankle, and intermediate partsis curved concavely across the width of the boot insert in the directionof the leg contacting face.
 12. A boot insert according to claim 11,wherein the calf and ankle parts each have a width between the sidesthat is greater than a width of the intermediate part.
 13. A boot insertaccording to claim 12, wherein the width of the calf part is greaterthan the width of the ankle part.
 14. A boot insert according to claim11, further comprising: a resilient, flexible, shape-holding core formedof a plastic material; and a fabric sleeve having an interior, the corebeing received in the interior and covered by the fabric sleeve.
 15. Aboot insert according to claim 14, wherein the core has a top edge, abottom edge, a pair of opposed side edges, a length between the top andbottom edges, a lengthwise axis, a width between the pair of opposedside edges, a boot cuff facing surface, a leg facing surface oppositethe boot cuff facing surface, and a thin profile between the boot cuffand leg facing surfaces.
 16. A boot insert according to claim 15,wherein the core is concavely curved across the width in the directionof the leg facing surface and is also curved along the lengthwise axisbetween the top and bottom edges.
 17. A boot insert according to claim15, wherein the core has an upper calf section and a lower anklesection, the calf section being wider between the pair of opposed sideedges than the ankle section.
 18. A boot insert according to claim 14,wherein the core has a continuous perimeter edge inclusive of the top,bottom, and opposed pair of side edges and has a curved lip extendingaround a substantial majority of the perimeter edge, the lip beingconvexly curved in the direction of the leg facing surface.
 19. A bootinsert according to claim 11, wherein the boot insert is also curvedalong a lengthwise axis between the top and bottom ends.
 20. A bootinsert according to claim 19, wherein the curve across the width of theboot insert is generally C-shaped, and wherein the curve along thelength of the boot insert is slightly S-shaped.
 21. A boot insertaccording to claim 11, wherein the boot insert is generally widthwisesymmetrical over the length of the boot insert.